Football is serious business. So is cricket. And if there’s one thing that can get a 40-year-old father to warm up to his 18-year-old daughter’s boyfriend, it’s not shared playlists or career plans but a mutual love for a big sporting moment. Sport has a peculiar way of smoothing over generational awkwardness, turning polite small talk into fevered debates and strangers into allies, at least until the final whistle. For fans who take their passion seriously, watching sports live is the ultimate upgrade. The journey becomes a pilgrimage, the ticket a badge of honour, and the memory something you’ll casually bring up for years. And this isn’t just fandom, it’s a full-fledged travel trend. Sports tourism has quietly moved from niche to mainstream, reshaping how and why people plan holidays. The numbers tell the story. During the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, flight searches from India to Doha jumped from 200 to 250 per cent year on year, according to Hansa Research. “For the Indian traveller, sporting events are no longer just moments of fandom but powerful catalysts for travel decisions,” says Santosh Kumar, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com. “As we look at the FIFA World Cup 2026, we are already observing a 30 to 50 per cent year-on-year uptick in searches for host cities across Canada, the USA, and Mexico.”
Once the domain of elite fans chasing overseas cricket tours or the glamour of Formula 1 weekends, sports tourism is now firmly for the masses. In 2026, sports will move far more than scoreboards. It will move people across borders, time zones, and travel budgets. From the Commonwealth Games in Scotland to the Asian Games in Japan, here’s our curated calendar of the biggest sporting events of 2026—where to go, where to stay, and what to do when you’re not cheering from the stands.
Men’s FIFA World Cup
Dates: June 11 to July 19
Venue: USA, Canada, and Mexico across 16 host cities, including New York–New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Toronto, Vancouver, and Mexico City
How To Attend: Tickets are sold through FIFA’s official ticketing platform in multiple phases, including ballot sales and first-come, first-served public sales. Fans must choose matches and host cities in advance. Hospitality packages are also available for premium access.
What Else To Do: In the US, combine matches with sightseeing in New York, Los Angeles or Miami. In Canada, Toronto and Vancouver offer waterfront walks and food scenes. Mexico City adds history, museums and culinary trails.
How And When To Book: Register for ticket alerts early. Book flights and hotels immediately after securing match tickets, as summer demand is extremely high across all host cities.
Dates: March to November
Venue: Various countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, depending on regional qualifying rounds and play-off hosts
How to Attend: Tickets are sold by host national federations and local stadium authorities. These matches are easier to access than tournament finals and are often priced affordably.
What Else to Do: Qualifiers are held in diverse destinations, from European capitals to Asian and African cities, allowing travellers to explore local culture, markets, heritage sites and food scenes without peak-season crowds.
How and When to Book: Fixtures are announced closer to match windows. Tickets are usually available a few weeks before matches, making this suitable for flexible travel plans.
Dates: September to November
Venue: Across multiple European countries, including England, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal, with matches played in major city stadiums
How to Attend: Tickets are sold through individual national football federation websites and official ticketing partners of host stadiums. Fans usually choose a city and match rather than following a single team across borders.
What Else to Do: Matches are typically hosted in capital or major cities, making it easy to combine football with sightseeing such as museums, historic centres, food markets and day trips to nearby towns.
How and When to Book: Tickets generally go on sale a few weeks before each international window. Flights within Europe are affordable if booked early, but accommodation near stadiums fills up fast on match weekends.
Dates: May 24 to June 7
Venue: Paris, France
How to Attend: Tickets are sold via the official Roland-Garros ticketing system.
What Else to Do: Visit the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, cafés and river cruises.
How and When to Book: Book tickets early in the year and hotels well ahead of time.
Dates: June 29 to July 12
Venue: London, United Kingdom
How to Attend: Tickets via ballot, resale or official hospitality.
What Else to Do: Museums, theatre, historic markets and parks.
How and When to Book: Enter the ballot early or plan for resale closer to the event.
Dates: August 30 to September 13
Venue: New York City, USA
How to Attend: Tickets sold directly through the US Open website.
What Else to Do: Broadway shows, Central Park, museums and food tours.
How and When to Book: Late summer is busy in New York; book flights and hotels early.
Dates: July 23 to August 2
Venue: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
How to Attend: Tickets are sold through the official Commonwealth Games organising committee, with sport-wise and session-wise options. Athletics, swimming and badminton are expected to be among the most in-demand events for Indian fans.
What Else to Do: Glasgow offers vibrant music and food scenes, historic architecture and museums. Visitors can easily add day trips to Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands or Loch Lomond for scenic escapes.
How and When to Book: Ticket sales are expected to open several months in advance. Summer is peak travel season in the UK, so flights and hotels should be booked early, especially around city-centre venues.
Dates: September 19 to October 4
Venue: Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture, Japan
How to Attend: Tickets are sold through the official Asian Games organising committee, with sport-wise and session-wise options.
What Else to Do: Nagoya offers historic castles, local food specialities and museums. The wider Aichi region is well connected by rail, making it easy to add trips to Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo.
How and When to Book: Tickets are expected to go on sale several months before the Games. Autumn is a popular travel season in Japan, so flights and accommodation should be booked well in advance.
Dates: February 7 to March 8
Venue: India and Sri Lanka, with matches in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Colombo and Kandy
How to Attend: Tickets and official travel packages are sold through ICC-authorised agents. Packages may include match tickets, accommodation and transport.
What Else to Do: Indian host cities offer food walks, heritage sites and shopping. In Sri Lanka, Colombo’s seafront, tea trails and beach excursions add to the experience.
How and When to Book: Tickets sell fast, especially for India matches. Domestic flights and hotels should be booked as soon as fixtures are confirmed.
Dates: March 15 to May 31
Venue: Multiple Indian cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad
How to Attend: Tickets are sold through official team websites and authorised ticketing platforms.
What Else to Do: Each host city offers its own unique cuisine, nightlife and cultural attractions, making weekend match trips easy.
How and When to Book: Tickets usually go on sale city-wise. Book as soon as the schedules are announced.
Dates: June 12 to July 5
Venue: England, across cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol
How to Attend: Tickets are sold via the official ICC and tournament platforms.
What Else to Do: Explore various landmarks in London, visit football museums in Manchester, and drop by some of the historic centres in Birmingham.
How and When to Book: Book tickets by early spring 2026 and plan travel around the UK summer holiday rush.
Dates: March
Venue: Melbourne, Australia
How to Attend: Tickets are sold through the official Australian Grand Prix and Formula 1 platforms, with options ranging from general admission to grandstand and hospitality passes.
What Else to Do: Melbourne is known for its café culture, street art, coastal drives along the Great Ocean Road, and nearby wine regions, making it ideal for a long weekend around the race.
How and When to Book: The season opener is extremely popular. Tickets and accommodation should be booked several months in advance, especially as March coincides with Australia’s peak event season.
Dates: July 3 to 5
Venue: Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, United Kingdom
How to Attend: Tickets are available directly through the circuit and Formula 1 platforms, with weekend passes offering access to practice, qualifying and race day.
What Else to Do: Silverstone is best combined with London or nearby historic towns. Visitors can explore London’s museums, theatres and markets or take countryside trips in southern England.
How and When to Book: The British Grand Prix sells out quickly. Book tickets as soon as sales open and secure accommodation in London or nearby towns, with daily transport to the circuit.
Dates: December 4 to 6
Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
How to Attend: Tickets are sold through the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organisers and Formula 1 platforms, with weekend passes and concert-inclusive tickets commonly available.
What Else to Do: Abu Dhabi offers beaches, desert safaris, theme parks, many new museums and luxury shopping stops, making it a popular winter escape for Indian travellers.
How and When to Book: December is peak travel season in the UAE. Book flights, hotels and race tickets well in advance, especially if combining the race with year-end holidays.
1. What are the biggest global sporting events in 2026?
Major highlights include the FIFA World Cup across the USA, Canada and Mexico, the ICC T20 World Cup, Wimbledon, the US Open, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Asian Games in Japan, and the Formula 1 season.
2. When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 scheduled?
The men’s FIFA World Cup is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 host cities in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
3. Which cricket tournaments are happening in 2026?
Cricket fans can look forward to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the Indian Premier League across multiple Indian cities, and the Women’s ICC T20 World Cup in England.
4. What are the key tennis events in 2026?
The Grand Slam calendar includes the French Open in Paris (May–June), Wimbledon in London (June–July), and the US Open in New York (August–September).
5. Why is sports tourism growing in popularity?
Sports tourism is rising as fans increasingly plan trips around live events. Major tournaments offer a mix of travel, culture, and shared experiences, making them powerful motivators for international travel.